Amid ongoing financial challenges, Township Rollers has launched a pioneering Adopt-A-Player initiative, calling on companies, supporters, and community groups to help secure the welfare of its players.
Speaking at a press briefing in Gaborone on Wednesday, Rollers’ chairperson, Thapelo ‘Fish’ Pabalinga, described the initiative as a critical step to ensure the club remains competitive while safeguarding its most important assets- its players and technical team.
The campaign invites individuals and organisations to contribute towards full or partial player salaries, accommodation, medical care, and other welfare needs, extending support to the technical team, whose work is vital to on-field success.
“Players are our most important assets. Ensuring their welfare improves performance, protects careers, and strengthens the club’s competitive future. We are in a precarious financial position, so we need all hands on deck,” Pabalinga said. “Professional football requires more than training and talent. It needs stable livelihoods and proper welfare support. Adopting a player directly impacts both on-field results and off-field wellbeing.”
Pabalinga added that the initiative provides an opportunity for businesses to associate with the Rollers brand while supporting local talent. Adopters may cover full or partial salaries or provide other forms of assistance that enhance player welfare.
“No amount of support is too small. We welcome any support that improves the welfare of our players,” he said, urging the Rollers community to rally behind the campaign. He expressed confidence that collective backing could restore the club’s fortunes. “With everyone’s support, we can rise to be bigger and better than before.”
In addition to the Adopt-A-Player campaign, Rollers have launched a nationwide membership drive, ‘The Return of The Giant’, aimed at increasing club membership numbers, which once peaked at over 400,000.
